Latch



G` W. ALDEEN June` 23, 1931.

LATCH Filed Jan. 31, 1927 ZZ/@ufo 7' 7' diff/eem Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE GEDOR W. ALDEEN, OF ROGKFORID, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR 'IO NATIONAL LOCK CO., ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LATCH "Application led January 31,`1927. Serial No. 164,729.

This invention relates to latches and aims to provide an eiiicient latch which may be convenientlyl operated and economically manufactured, and one in which rattle is substantially eliminated between the handle and the latch bar. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a latch including a latch housing and operating lever-.adapted to operatea latch bar in said housing in which the lever is so constructed and mounted vin relation to the housing' as to elfectively cover the entrance of the lever-into the housing at all positions of vsaid lever. y

@ther and further objects of this invention will be apparent after the same becomes better understood and'by reference to the description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. l is a plan view-of a latch embodying this invention, l

Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 andshowing parts in elevation, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. l and showing parts in elevation.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, numeral e indicates a housing for a latch mechanism, said housing being struck from sheet metal to form a central raised portion 5 from which is struck upwardly spaced lugs 6 which support a longitudinal pivot pin 7. The pin 7 in turn supports the latch lever 8, the latter being provided with an extension 9 which extends into the interior of the portion 5 through one of the recesses formed from striking the lugs 6 out of the housing, to actuate a latch bar 11 pivoted within said housing. The portion 12 of the housing between the recesses formed therein `when the lugs 6 were struck therefrom is depressed' and carries a central pivot 13 which supports the latch 11 on the under side of said portion. The extension 9 extends substantially normal to the handle portion 14 of the lever and engages in the slot 15 in the inner end of the latch bar 11, whereby said lever'may actuate said bar from locking or operative position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to iii-operative or unlocking position, as shown in dotted lines in said gure. The

lever 8 is in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 when the bar 11 is in the operative pois in the inoperative or dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 A keeper 16 is adapted to be engaged by said latch bar when the same is in the operative or full line position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to eli'ectively close the recesses formed by s striking the lugs 6 from said housing, one of which recesses incidentally provides an entrance for the extension 9, the lever 8 is formed with an enlarged rounded head portion 1'? of suiiicient width to lit be tween the lugs As is heretofore stated, the portion 12 is depressed and receives the portion 17 or a part thereof when the lever 8 is actuated about its pivot, thereby affording Vend as shown in Fig. 3 extending into an aperture 10 in the bar 11 to the left of the pivot thereof for normally holding said bar in full line or operative position, as shown in Fig. 1. f The other end of the spring 18, as

shown in Fig. 2, abuts the lever 8 at the side of the pivot thereof, opposite to the handle 14 whereby said spring normally holds said lever in the inner or full line position shown in Fig. 2. Thus the spring 18 is interposed between the lever 8 and the latch bar acting directly upon each, to eliminate rattle between them as well as to normally yieldably hold both in their operative positions.

I am aware that many changes may be made through a wide range, without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a latch, the combination of a housing, a pivotally movable latch bar, an operating lever connected to said bartand a spring disposed in said housingand in direct contact with both said lever and bar for yieldably holding both in predetermined posii crease in the tion and so Connected to said lever andbar lthat a movement of either from itsl respective predetermined position causes an inp potential of the spring acting upon the other. Y

2. A latch comprising a housing, Va. latch loar and anY operating-lever. therefor both piv- Y otally carried by said lhousing and, a single yspring disposed in said ,housing and acting` on both said bar and said lever to yieldably retain the saine inv predetermined 'position and to prevent lost-motion bet-Ween them. 'i

3. In a latch, a housing, a pivotallynioui'fit-` `ed latch bar adaptedvto be moved toa plurality of positions, an operating lever connected to said bar for actuatingthe saine to its diiierent-positions, anda spring ydisposed' in saidihousing and actingnirectly upon and between both said lever and-bar for yieldably holding Athe latter in one ,of said positions and the 'vl-ever` in vits corresponding position. Y Y t. In a latch, a housing, a pivotally mounted latchbar adapted to'be moved to a plurality of positions, an operating lever connected tov said bar for actuating the saine to its different positions, anda spring disposedvr in said housing and having onecend vactiifig directly uponfsaid lever and the other end acting directly on said bar for yieldab-ly holding the latter in .one of said positions andV the lever in its corresponding position.

5. `Ina latch, a latch bar adapted to be moved toa pluralityof positions, a pivotally mounted operating leverconnected to said bar for actuating the same,`and -a springl Y; surrounding the pivot of said lever and act- A directly Vupon both said lever and-hartforyield'ably holding the latter vin one of said positions and saidV lever in its corresponding position. y

Y 6.V Inra latch, the combination'of a housf ing,a latch bar operable Within said housing, a pair of lugs struck upwardly `from said housing, and an operating lever for said bar pivotall'y carried by... said Vlil-gs 'and having Lain/14e ing, an operating lever mounted exteriorly of said housing and having an extension extendinginto the housing, the portion of the housing directly beneath said lever-being depressed, said lever having an enlarged portion-adjacent thel pivot thereof presenting an exterior surface which is-adapted to substantiallycover said depressedportion and to be carriedY in proximity thereto When said lever p is actuated, and a latch bar-pivotally 'carried by said depressed portion'and adapted to be actuated by said extension.

` 9. In a latch, the combination of a housing, an operating lever mounted exteriorlyof said housing and having an extension extending into the housing, theportionkof the housing directly beneath Vsaid lever being depressed,y said levery having an enlarged Hportion adj acentthe pivot thereof presenting an exterior surface which is adapted4 to substantially cover said depressed portion and to be carried inproximitythereto when said lever is actuated, l and a latch bar operable in said housing and adapted tobe actuated by said extension. Y v A fr l0. In ya latch,y the combination ofa'housing, a latch bar operable-Within said housing, and an `operating lever for said bar inountedexteriorly of said housing-and having` an extension extending into the housing for actuating said bar, said lever and housi'ng'be'in'g `Vformed -With integral portions thereto arranged toy closethe entrance of said lever into said housingatall positions of the lever. f

In Witness of the I foregoing I aifiximy signature. J -r GEDOR V'ALDEENV an extension extending into the housing for Y lactuating saidbar, the portion Lof said housingvbetvveen said lugs being depressed, 'the lever liaving an enlarged portionneai'v the end vthereof presenting an' exterior 'surface Which is adapted to substantially coversaid depressedl portion and proximity *thereto When-'said lever is actuated to operate said bar, said bar being pivotally carried by said depressed portion.

7.V In a latch, the combination of aihousl ing, a pairoi. lugs struck upwardly out of said housing, a lever pivotally carriedbysaid lugs and having'anextension extending into the housing, anda latch bar pivotally carried by'that portion of said housing between v(iti theilugs'- and adapted to be operated by saidl I iio 

